Friends of the Library

A few of the staff and Friends of the Library members who put on the 2nd Annual Victorian Sweetheart Tea.

Victorian Tea Opening

(front left) Linda Clemans, President of the Friends of the Library, and (front right) Beverly Bobo, FOL Treasurer, greet ticket buyers while FOL Secretary Casey O'Neill takes pictures of a table being served by Rebecca Rector, Assistant Librarian.

Taylor Briggs receives his scholarship money in 2013

Fashion Show models paraded through the venue in conclusion of the show

Door prizes were drawn for throughout the fashion show

There was a great turnout at the Holiday Family Fashion Show put on by the Friends of the Library

Bob Wolfe was among the many door prize winners of the afternoon

FOL Treasurer Bev Bobo and her son-in-law Phillip walked the "runway" together

2015 Family Holiday Fashion Show

The FOL Paint Mixer had a great turnout

Friends Members Wanted

Scholarships available every year

FOL offer scholarships

2013 Fashion Show

Centennial Quilt on display

Centennial Quilt

3rd Annual Victorian Tea

The Friends of the Library have sponsored our book clubs several times

The Friends of the Library hosted a beautiful memorial tribute, and dedicated a bench in memory of FOL member Betty Forthofer. Betty's husband Guy is seen here accepting a certificate of appreciation.

The bench is now located on the library lawn for patrons to use.

NEW BOOK BAGS AND MUGS HAVE ARRIVED

Friends of the Library members in attendance at the 4th Annual Victorian Tea

There will NOT be a FOL meeting in November or December. The next meeting is Tuesday, January 8, at 6:30 PM in the library. Join us!

* We have a Christmas painting class on the schedule for December 2, and a Christmas ornament sale.

We encourage everyone to join us for the Sip and Paint class on Sunday, December 2 at the American Legion Post 417. The class will run from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Cost is $30 per person and includes all materials needed and an interactive lesson from the class instructor, Mary Davis. Assorted finger foods and beverages will be available for freewill donations. This is such a fun event!

Please consider purchasing from our school design Christmas ornament sale this year. You may choose from Madison Plains, Westfall, Miami Trace, Washington Courthouse, and OSU. All proceeds benefit programs and materials at the Mt. Sterling Public Library.

Our hearts are broken from the recent loss of our beloved and long-time Treasurer, Beverly Bobo. Thank you to everyone who has donated to us in her name. Donations may be made to the Mt. Sterling Friends of the Library, in memory of Beverly Bobo, 60 W. Columbus St., Mt. Sterling, OH 43143, or drop off at our library in a sealed and marked envelope. A memorial bench honoring her many years of dedicated service to the library can be seen on the library lawn.

We have placed a memorial bench dedicated to her on our lawn. In the future the library hopes to rebuild the current entrance and re-vamp into having a courtyard which will hold no more than 4 benches. Plans for this remain in the future.

The Friends would like to take this opportunity to stress to our community the need is even greater now than ever for new members to join the Friends of the Library organization. This organization was established over 10 years ago, and is nationally recognized. Currently, it is the same few people and a few of the library staff members that are making these events and activities possible. Please take this opportunity to find your calling in volunteering for such an outstanding and worthy organization!

If you would like to help, participate, or donate to our cause for any event, fundraiser, or activity, please contact Linda Clemans @ 740.869.2216 or attend the next meeting! We would love your support!

CURRENT OFFICERS

PRESIDENT: Linda Clemans

V. PRESIDENT: Heidi Fletcher

SECRETARY: Casey O’Neill

TREASURER: Vacant

RUN BY THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY (FOL), A VARIETY OF SMALL ITEMS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE FROM THE MINIATURE DISPLAY CASE. ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT LIBRARY MATERIALS AND PROGRAMS.

~Overview~

Friends of the Library organizations are recognized nationally. The local group was established approximately 10 years ago. The function of the organization is to raise awareness of the library’s needs, and fundraising for such needs. This is a voluntary organization. New members are always needed, especially active members. Our group has given tens of thousands in donations to the library both monetary and in materials. Bring your friends and your ideas and join us for a worthy cause!

MEETINGS~EVENTS~ACTIVITIES~

Meetings are generally held the 2nd Tuesday of each month, at 6:30 PM in the library, but there are exceptions based on a more convenient time to the group, weather, holidays, other activities, or time sensitive matters.

What’s New? We had a great turnout of support for our 8th annual Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser last March! We have been holding this event as a main fundraiser for the library since our second year of inception. This was the third year we held it at The United Church. A special thank you to David and Judy Lucas, and Mary and Tim Alkire for their organization and running the kitchen, donations of items, and especially Judy’s many unique and handcrafted items she creates and donates to the silent auction! They make our roles so much easier! Our 6th Annual Victorian Tea was a huge success in February! So much fun was had by all those in attendance. In October we held our second Paint Mixer with a great turnout! Our fall was very productive.

Meetings are open to the public and everyone is encouraged to attend. We are seeking new members to attend and expand our committee meetings with fresh ideas for fundraising events. We have lots of fun while supporting the library! We purchase much necessary equipment, supplies, materials, and financially support events and programs. Come and share your talents. Make the library your favorite place to join your favorite friends! If you are unable to attend, but would otherwise like to serve on a committee, become a member of our organization, or join in the fundraising efforts, please up a form at the library on the community bulletin board, or call the President of the Friends of the Library, Linda Clemans @ 740-505-0887. We always need new friends! This is an opportunity to support your community and feel rewarded by doing so in watching our progress.

A couple years ago we were able to bring our local Friends of the Library (FOL) group up to date with our counterparts, by observing National Friends of the Library Week. With more active members in the future, it is our hope to participate in such things that are relevant to our organization’s mission.

*Mt. Sterling Friends of the Library finally acquired what most all FOL groups have- a true Sales Display! In the fall of 2014, we purchased a case to display all our new items to sell. Among the items for sale are notecards with the library’s picture, book marks, mugs, book totes, and t-shirts. We are so excited to be able to provide these items to our community! All proceeds benefit library programs, materials and equipment.

*Also new for the first time, a new and used book sale was held at the library during National Friends of the Library Week in 2014. We hoped this was just the first of an annual event, but will tweak it to be one day of used books only. It was a lot of work for our small group. Your local Friends of the Library group will now be on par with all the other Friends of the Library groups by holding such an event for the public once we figure out a streamlined way to collect donations in the future. Currently we do not have the space to accommodate holding donations to even begin holding an annual used book sale. It is a traditional staple of Friends of the Library groups to hold book sales to help raise funds to support their local libraries. We hope you attend any future sales and find something to purchase to help us support the library. With new membership we could acquire this standard.

As pictured, the Friends of the Library offer shirts for sale to show your support of your library. If interested in purchasing, contact the library, or attend any of our meetings or events and notify a FOL member.

3rd Annual Victorian Tea

2018 Planned Events:

January – Annual Planning

February 17 – Annual Victorian Sweetheart Tea from 2-4 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church

October 2 – Fall Paint Mixer at the American Legion Hall

December – Baked goods booth at Town Hall for Christmas in the Village

2015 Events:

February 7 – 4th Annual Victorian Tea from 1-3 PM at the United Methodist Church

March 13 – Annual Spaghetti Dinner from 5-7 PM at the United Church. This was our first year holding at a different location, and it went very smoothly.

April 18 – Paint Mixer fundraiser at the American Legion Hall

April 24-April 30 – Paparrazi Jewelry online fundraiser sale

May 1- Deadline for Marjorie Hanson Memorial Book Scholarship applications

October 18 through 24 – National Friends of the Library Week

November 14 – Annual Holiday Fashion Show Luncheon at the First Church of the Nazarene. This year we plan to have a “family-style” fashion show. Featuring children, men, and women, we will showcase fashions from more than one place.

2014 Events:

March 22 – 3rd Annual Victorian Tea from 1-3 PM at the United Methodist Church

April 25 – Annual Spaghetti Dinner from 5-7 PM at the First Church of the Nazarene

March 15 – Annual Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser at the Nazarene Church

November 16 – 5th Annual Holiday Fashion Show Luncheon

December 14 – 2nd Annual Live Wreath Making Class…located at the United Methodist Church at 2:00 PM, cost is $25 each.

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A few of the staff and Friends of the Library members who put on the 2nd Annual Victorian Sweetheart Tea.

Pat Baynes, President of the Board of Directors, introduces new Library Director Chris Siscoe and his daughter Sophia to those in attendance.

Some of the crowd that attended including Sue Schilling and her family in the forefront.

Linda Clemans and Beverly Bobo greet ticket buyers.

Referencing photos above, the Friends of the Library hosted the 2nd Annual Victorian Sweetheart Tea on Sunday, February 17, 2013 from 4-5:30 PM. The event was held once again at Ben & Joy’s Diner during open dining hours, this time with seating in the Sterling Room. The event was so successful the first year that the Angel Room was filled to capacity.

Tickets were sold at the Library and at the door for $7.50 each. Those in attendance enjoyed the ambiance with servers dressed in Victorian style clothing and hats serving a menu of Tea sandwiches, a variety of flavored teas, and homemade Victorian strawberry pie while old fashioned music played softly in the background. Victorian clothing and hats were optional and category door prizes were awarded to the oldest and youngest attendees, as well as the attendee that traveled the farthest to attend the event.

Some of the 2012 scheduled events were:

August 25 – Annual Community Yard Sale & Patron Appreciation Picnic

November 18 – 4th Annual Holiday Fashion Show Luncheon

December 6 – Live Wreath Making Class fundraiser

December 16 – Assist with the Annual Old Fashioned Christmas Open House at the Museum

Check the Library Events under the Library Information tab and the Library Facebook page for details.

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